Marion Illinois History Preservation

Kimmel, Jerome, 1873-1957, Miner & Alderman

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Sam LattucaMay 3, 2024

According to his Social Security death record, Jerome Kimmel was born near Creal Springs on November 13, 1873 to Joseph Priestly and Mary Ann Kimmel. By the time the 1880 census was taken, the farming family was living in Union County. The father Joseph was 27 and mother Mary was 24. They had 4 children living in the home, Jerome 6, Oscar 4, Jo Ann 2 and Etta at 10 months of age.

When the 1900 census was taken, 26 year old Jerome was working as a salesman and living as a solitary boarder in the home of George & Kate McMinn and their four children at 1036 N. Leonard Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Norman, Curtis M., 1878-1945, Coal Miner & Alderman

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 27, 2024

Curtis Marion Norman was born on May 17, 1878 in Crab Orchard Township to Francis Marion Norman and Samantha Edwards. F.M. Norman was a Civil War veteran and part of the early families to settle Williamson County. The 1880 federal census located farmer F.M. 54 and Samantha 27 along with children William D. 20, James 18, Cynthia 13 and Curtis aged 2 living in Crab Orchard Township. William was working as a farm worker and James was working as a store clerk. Their father Francis, was on his second much younger wife, having originally married Martha Whitlock in 1845 and then remarrying to Samantha Edwards in 1873. Curtis’s father, F.M., died on July 31, 1897.

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Williams, James M., 1878-1954, Miner & Alderman

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 27, 2024

James Martin Williams was born October 16, 1878 to Xerxes Marcus & Sarah F. Williams in Townmount Precinct in Franklin County. The 1880 federal census located the family in this location when his father was only 22, his mother 19 and James was just 1. By the 1900 census, his mother, Sarah was no longer in the equation and his father had remarried Lucinda Cash Buchtenkerchen on April 16, 1893. The family had relocated from Franklin County to live in Marion. At that point in time, Marcus 41 and Lucinda 40 had two children living with them, sons undoubtedly belonging to his first wife, Sarah. They were Harry H. 25 and James M. 21, both working as a coal miners just like their father. Also living in their home was Ethel aged 5, reportedly the sister of Marcus but doubtful.

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Spiller, James Ransom, 1876-1963, Deputy Marshall, Mine Operator & Alderman

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 25, 2024

James Ransom Spiller was born in Spillertown on September 7, 1876 to William J. Spiller and Susan Elizabeth Goodall, namesakes for the little unincorporated village. This is where the 1880 federal census located his family, William J. 46, Susan 44 and James aged 3 along with 8 other siblings. Of his siblings all were females except one, a brother John, and most all of the girls would go one to marry into prominent Marion families.

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Morgan, Owen A., 1876-1942, Wholesale Grocer & Alderman

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 20, 2024

Owen Alfred Morgan was born on a farm in Hamilton County on August 21, 1876 to Phillip W. Morgan and Harriet Jerusha Damron. He was found in the 1880 federal census at the age of 4 living with his father Phillip 40 and mother Harriet 37 and five siblings on their farm in Hamilton County.

In 1897 Owen married Addie Belle Grigg, daughter of Abner Monroe and Phebe Grigg. When the 1900 census was taken Owen 23 and Addie B. 20 were living in Dahlgren, Illinois in Hamilton County and they had one child, a son named Carlos aged 1. They were living in a home Owen declared to be free of mortgage and he was working as a dry goods salesman. The couple noted that they had birthed one child and one lived.

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